D G Am Em C G G D G
[Verse]
G C G D
From the streets of old Victoria to fair old Mabou town
D G C G
From Portage to Spadina listen closely for the sound
D G Am Em
A voice still echoes softly 'cross the rivers and the plains
C G G D G
So don't you dare stop listening and don't forget his name
[Chorus]
D G
Arise and be merry
Am Em
And sing out while you can
C G
The world will never see the likes
G D G
Of dear old Stan
[Verse]
G C G D
The Yanks have Woodie Guthrie, The British Ralph McTell
D G C G
The Celts have got the Corries, aye and Ronnie Drew as well
D G Am Em
Adge Cutler sings of cider out in the west country
C G G D G
But I am a Canadian, and so I say to thee
[Chorus]
D G
Arise and be merry
Am Em
And sing out while you can
C G
The world will never see the likes
G D G
Of dear old Stan
[Verse]
G C G D
When I was just a nipper bouncing on my mummy's knee
D G C G
'Twas Harris and the Mare me boys she sweetly sang to me
D G Am Em
And as I closed my eyes beneath the Northern moon so pale
C G G D G
I dreamed I was the Captain standing on the Nightingale
[Chorus]
D G
Arise and be merry
Am Em
And sing out while you can
C G
The world will never see the likes
G D G
Of dear old Stan
[Verse]
G C G D
At the Wolf and Hound Vancouver, just for a pint or two
D G C G
These blokes were singing Old Maui from the whales' point of view
D G Am Em
I thought of old Stan Rogers and walked straight out the bar
C G G D G
And started up the Dreadnoughts, and here we bloody are
[Chorus]
D G
Arise and be merry
Am Em
And sing out while you can
C G
The world will never see the likes
G D G
Of dear old Stan
D G
Arise and be merry
Am Em
And sing out while you can
C G
The world will never see the likes
G D G
Of dear old Stan